Surf's Up I
I.B. Sundström Lyrics

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When you were young
Did you think
Something so bad could
Happen to you
I'm sure that you've
Been through a lot of shit
And you're surprised that
You managed to

Make it this far, well
Congrats to you
I hope that you are feeling better now
Hope that you are doing better now
You've dealt with substance abuse
Heartbreaks, all sorts of abuse
Problems with authority
You're never with the majority
Been through occasional car crashes
And spreading your loved one's ashes
You've probably been subject to hate
Adversity has made you great
So used to bad situations
Finding new ways to deal with them
So used to exploitation
Wishing you could love yourself again
Like you used to
Or did you ever love yourself at all
No time to think about that
When your back is against a wall
When your back is against the wall
You've dealt with substance abuse
Heartbreaks, all sorts of abuse
Problems with authority
You're never with the majority
Been through occasional car crashes
And spreading your loved one's ashes

You've probably been subject to hate
Adversity has made you great

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of I.B. Sundström's song "Surf's Up I" depict a reflection on the hardships and challenges that the singer has faced throughout their life. The opening lines inquire about the singer's perception of the unexpected and negative experiences they have encountered while growing up. The lyrics acknowledge that the singer has endured various difficult situations and expresses surprise that they have managed to overcome them and come this far. It conveys a sense of admiration and congratulation for their resilience and perseverance.

The lyrics then highlight some specific struggles that the singer has faced, including substance abuse, heartbreak, abuse of different kinds, problems with authority, and feeling like an outsider. It mentions car crashes and the difficult task of spreading the ashes of loved ones, indicating that the singer has experienced loss and grief. The lyrics also acknowledge the presence of hate and adversity in the singer's life, emphasizing that these challenges have ultimately contributed to their growth and strength. It suggests that the singer has become accustomed to unfavorable circumstances and has developed coping mechanisms to deal with them, even though they may long to regain self-love and a sense of wholeness.

Overall, the lyrics of "Surf's Up I" convey a message of acknowledgment and understanding for the trials and tribulations one faces in life. It emphasizes the resilience and strength that arise from these experiences, while also alluding to a desire for self-acceptance and love.

Line by Line Meaning

When you were young
Back in your youth

Did you think
Did you ever imagine

Something so bad could
That something incredibly negative could

Happen to you
Occur in your life

I'm sure that you've
I am certain that you have

Been through a lot of shit
Faced numerous difficult situations

And you're surprised that
And it astonishes you that

You managed to
You have successfully

Make it this far, well
Reached this point in your life

Congrats to you
Congratulations to you

I hope that you are feeling better now
I wish for you to be in a better state of mind presently

Hope that you are doing better now
Hope that your overall situation has improved

You've dealt with substance abuse
You have faced challenges related to substance abuse

Heartbreaks, all sorts of abuse
Suffered from heartbreak and various forms of mistreatment

Problems with authority
Encountered difficulties with figures of power

You're never with the majority
You are always at odds with the majority

Been through occasional car crashes
Experienced occasional car accidents

And spreading your loved one's ashes
And scattering the ashes of your loved ones

You've probably been subject to hate
Most likely faced hatred from others

Adversity has made you great
Challenges have contributed to your personal growth

So used to bad situations
Accustomed to negative circumstances

Finding new ways to deal with them
Discovering innovative approaches to handle them

So used to exploitation
Familiar with being taken advantage of

Wishing you could love yourself again
Desiring to regain self-love

Like you used to
As you did in the past

Or did you ever love yourself at all
Or did you never truly love yourself

No time to think about that
No moment to contemplate that

When your back is against a wall
When you are in a difficult situation

When your back is against the wall
When you are facing great adversity